New ODI rule unfair, disadvantageous to bowlers: Jayawardene

Pallekele, Nov 6 (ANI): Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has said the new ODI rule on field restrictions is disadvantageous to bowlers and could even diminish the role of spinners in the future.

The new playing conditions for Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals came into effect in the ongoing series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

In ODIs, instead of three, there will be two blocks of Powerplays. In an uninterrupted innings, the first Powerplay will be restricted to the first 10 overs with only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. The second five-over batting Powerplay (in an uninterrupted innings) will have to be completed by the 40th over and only three fielders will be allowed outside the fielding restriction area at the time of delivery.

In the non-Powerplay overs, no more than four fielders will be permitted outside the 30-yard circle.

Jayawardene said the International Cricket Council rule to restrict the number of outfielders to four, even outside of powerplay overs, heavily favours batsmen.

"I am not comfortable with these changes. It's not the way to go forward. I have this funny feeling that spinners will not have a role to play in the future," Jayawardene said.

Another new rule is the use of new balls at either end, which hinders spinners' grip to extract turn, Sport24 reports.

Jayawardene said limited-overs cricket is becoming too generous for batsmen, citing the rule of a free hit after a bowler bowls a no-ball. (ANI)

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